The Department of Geography at SFU has a tradition of research excellence in a diversity of disciplines, spanning human geography, earth system dynamics (ESD), and spatial and geographic information science (SGIS).

Human Geography focuses on the crucial difference that place and space make to human societies and to the social and natural environments through which societies operate. Human geographers at SFU address issues of profound analytical and policy concern such as: equity and justice; economic development and sustainability; cities and urbanization; mobility and transportation; resource use; conservation and human-environment interactions; culture; and politics.

Earth System Dynamics seeks to understand the holistic functioning of, and interactions among, the planetary climate system and the hydrosphere, the biosphere, and the geosphere. SFU expertise presently encompasses hydrology, climatology, limnology, fluvial and glacial geomorphology, soil science, and landscape ecology. Our goal is to be known for cutting-edge research in the areas of global environmental change and water sciences. Our training of students is built on foundational sciences and a holistic view of Earth system dynamics.

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Spatial and Geographic Information Science combines theoretical and applied aspects of GIS to discern patterns on the earth’s surface. SGIS includes the sub-disciplines of cartography, spatial analysis, spatial modeling, geocomputation, geosimulation and geovisualization. It adds a spatial dimension to many geographical enquiries and also provides an intellectual foundation for spatial theory.

Under this interdisciplinary umbrella, SFU Geography faculty have research strengths in geographical political economies, global environmental change, water science, the city, spatial health and spatial information theory, and seek to enhance these areas on a continuing basis.

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